Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1887-07-02
CANADIAN ANNEXATION.


CANADIAN ANNEXATION.
The Serious Consequence Of Pro-
crastlnatlon.
Senator Stewart of Nevada was inter-
viewed by the San Francisco Chronicle
recently on the subject Of Canadian an
nexation. Canada is the only neighbor
that menances this country" said Sena-
tor Stewart. ut may not seem that we
have anything to fear from Canada now,
and our present security may persuaded
great many people that there will he no
danger ahead; but as the British possess
sions north of grow in population, and
become covered with a network of rail-
roads, and dotted from the Atlantic to
Pacific with thrifty towns; when they
have great wealth and q high national
spirit, which are sur to come, then they
will be a constant menace to the United
States. There will be a boundary line
1900 miles long that will have to be
guarded; military posts will then stretch
from Halifax to Victoria, the lake will
haye to be patroled by men-of-war and
both ocean coast lines will have to be de-
Tended against possible attack. When
Canada and tho other British provinces
become formidable in numbers and
wealth, as they are sure to be one day,
this country will be forced to be always
prepared to defend itself. Times may be
as peaceful and placid then as they are
now, but possible danger will hang over
the nation and force us to be continually
ready. The whole empire north of us
will have ample facilities for carrying on
a terrible war. There are great
there, which will be developed. Victoria
Is surrounded by lands rich in timber
and coal, and the eastern half of that
stretch of country is likewise full of
natural resources.
con tho other hand, the advantages of
q union are almost inestimablc. In the
first place, all future danger would be
averted. The Canadas, Manitoba and
British Columbia would take their places
as states in the union, with their repre-
%sentatives in congress, without any diff
Guilty. The Canadians would soon adapt
themselves to our system. They would
blend with the Americans, 80 that in q
few years the line of national demarka-
ton would be obliterated. Then all
barriers to trade between the two
tries would be removed. Commerce
would pass from New York into Canada,
or from Washington Territory into Brit
ish Columbia, as freely as it now does
between Ohio and Indiana or Oregon and
California. The two countries would
enrich each other. The trade of both
countries would then be under the same
national laws and would be regulated
alike. There would be no cutting by the
railroad system OF Canada, as there may
be now, under the interstate commerce
law. The monetary system of both would
be the same, and mako more powerful
whatever policy the country would adopt.
Irritation between tho two countries
will certainly increase. There will be
constantly arising incidents that will
provoke the feelings of the two peoples.
The dispute over the fishery question is
an instance of what will surely be hap
pening year after year. If this country
continues its system of tariff duties, Ca
madam merchants will chafe and feel the
existence Of two governments keenly. If
Canada continues in the same line of pol
icy, our merchants will feel as though
the doors o ftrade were shut in their faces.
Beside, the growth of national pride and
the national spirit will make tho Cana
dian government sensitive to any injury
OF wrong, however slight. 1t is impos-
sible that the two countries should not
grow apart, instead of together, under
separate governments. And such a re-
suit cannot be pleasing to either people.
AS I said before, Canada-strong, rich
and populous-will be q menace to this
government.
81 am satisfied that tho Canadians
would consent to annexation. I know
that many prominent men in Victoria
would welcome such a result. This
country could afford to pay England
whatever price she asked for Canada and
the debt of Canada could be assumed by
us, or by both countries together. If
both coun tries were together Canada
could be more quickly populated by
immigration, as new countries arc set
tied just as fast as the neighboring ter
titory is filled. That is the history of
our own immigration, and, if there were
nc national barrier between tho United
States and the country north Of us many
of our people would cross into the new
land and make their homes there.
eff We do not get Canada peacefully we
will have to fight for it. This country
cannot see so strong and rich and am
tious a people grow up on our borders.
Now is the time to take IL stop i'll the di-
rection of the consolidation of English
speaking people, that writer's in Eng
land SO much discuss. The annexation
Of Canada and the other British provin-
ces north of us to the United States would
insure peace Oh the continent, it would
enrich both countries and make our gov
ernment stronger than eyer
NJ OPINION.
The attorney general Of Nova Scotia is
represented as saying that the dominion
would never become u community of
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